Lady Helm and Lady Crew's Race

The London Corinthian's Lady Helm Race.

There is also a Lady Crew prize - presumably she has to have a Lady Helm as well.

Sunday 3rd August 2008

Despite being harassed by Beverley on Tuesday night the majority of women members shot off to Cowes rather than sail on the river on Sunday. Alison Farrer, who gained her RYA2 a couple of years ago and had not been near the river since crewed with Beverley and Begonia crewed for James? Andy Brainan also sailed but failed to convince anyone that they would qualify as a lady helm or a lady crew, not that they tried very hard.

The race officer, Ian Wilde, ably abetted by his two daughters, Adeline 9 and Josephine 7 set a course of 4, 3 and 1 all to port. The wind, force 2-3 westerly, was steady, most of the time, but livened up the proceedings by producing occasional vigorous gusts. The Enterprises got off to a good tight beat down to No 4 buoy. Beverley and Alison reached No4 buoy first, with a boat hot on their heels.

While the Enterprises raced around the course the Laser sailors we having on-the-water instruction from Simon Hills following him around the course like ducklings following the mother duck and doing their best to keep out of the Enterprises way.

The run from No3 to No 1 offered some exciting sailing as the gusts hit the dinghies, but everyone stayed upright. Beverley and Alison slowly extended their lead over James? and Begonia who, at some point, decided that all this racing around the buoys was all very well but they decided to go on a watery ramble and give Begonia the opportunity to helm.

While, for the most part, the wind was fairly steady it did try some nasty backwinds around No 4 and only by some very fast balancing did the crew manage to keep the dinghy from capsizing. After eight laps the race officer finished the race and the crew repaired to the Club to share tales of daring do and enjoy a well earned pint or two. Andre Gareh, Rear Commodore Sailing, presented the Lady Crew’s cup to Alison Farrer and both she and Beverley Beech won the Wooden Bowl for the first (and, for that matter, the only) all lady dinghy.

Note: The wooden bowl was first presented last year to Vian Dixon and crew. The bowl had been fished out of the Thames by Beverley during a stint as Safety Boat driver some months previously. It looked disgusting, and the general view was that it should be thrown back in, but Beverley ignored the advice and gave the bowl to her husband, Robbie Robertson, who cleaned and polished it.

This is what happened on Sunday 3rd June 2001

At the Summer Ball the Commodore encouraged the numerous gorgeously dressed women to get up early the next morning and go sailing on the Thames. The suggestion was met by collective groans, no doubt from those planning substantial hangovers, but eight intrepid women (accompanied by seven gallant men) ventured forth to wrest the Trophy from last year's winner - the Commodore!

Vian Eisnaes and Martin Dixon shot off to an excellent start leaving most of the fleet pointing in the wrong direction shouting at a confused Laser sailor to get out of the way and tack for the line. Claims of confusion over the new starting procedure abounded amidst mutterings about sailors who in their enthusiasm to get on the water had omitted to check what course had been set! Vian's early getaway was soon reduced when she sailed too close to the Surrey shore and fell into a windless patch and a battle developed between Vian, Hillary and Beverley.

The race officer, Hugh Kemlo, set No8 and No2 buoys for the first round. The wind was northerly which meant some close tacking to the Eyot and then a run. The fleet remained remarkably close until No8 buoy was rounded.

The difficulty for the returning sailors was judging whether to sail close to the bank, and out of the tide and often out of the wind too, or sail further out and benefit from stronger wind but face a fierce tide. It resulted in vigorous tacking and serious tactical sailing. The sheep were soon separated from the goats (or should it be the herrings from the mackerel?) and the fleet divided into two.

While the tail-enders battled to get back to No2 buoy the first three dinghies exchanged positions frequently as they tacked back down the river. By the time No2 was reached the Commodore, ably encouraged by Robin Johnson, was back in the lead (having ended up as the last dinghy to round No8 earlier).

The northerly wind, Force 3-4, meant that there were patches of calm followed by moments of vigorous gusts. After a particularly vigorous blast Peter was heard to complain to Robin that 'these women certainly make one work' but most of the fleet (bar one) managed to stay afloat, despite the view of some of the men that the objective of the day was to give them a swimming lesson.

The Commodore's lead was maintained until the next round when the fleet had a reach from No4 to No3, which had been thoughtfully laid in a dead patch. Having made a pig's ear of rounding it, her extensive lead (primarily gained by Robin's hard work) was reduced as Hillary Cook and Peter Hopps gained ground. By the next round, having learned little from the previous debacle the Commodore repeated the exercise and Hillary slipped through to take the lead and crossed the line two minutes ahead.

Vian and Martin gained third place and sometime later the remainder of the fleet made it home to celebrate and chew over the considerable skill of the helms and relative merits of the newly recruited crews.

Cirrus